Style N - German Silver bodies ?

[snakehips]

Hi there !

While most of this subject has been covered in the past, in various places, AND the bit about early 1930 German Silver Style O's, versus circa 1931/32 Style N's has been explained the best by Mark Makin, I am still a little confused on a few points.
(Maybe Mark Makin could chime in when he is settled in his new home & has internet sorted - that would be great ?!!)

NB. See a link for Mark Makin's excellent points on those German Silver Style O's & mostly brass Style N differences :
markmakin.co.uk/style-n-or-style-o.html


I think my questions have been sparked off again, as I just saw another National Style N (S3432) for sale, online. from a US guitar store :
www.retrofret.com/product.asp?ProductID=11972&name=National-Style-N-Resophonic-Guitar-1932

(I've also attached some of the pictures).

I was very sceptical when I saw the description that this Style N had a German Silver body but brass coverplate, under all that nickel plating.
I do know that some people claim their Style N's have German Silver bodies - but sometimes that is to claim the guitar is more valuable - BUT Mark Makin, I think, has stated in the past that National did make some Style N's with a variety of metals - even copper.

So, looking at the pictures more closely, I THINK I am seeing areas of nickel-plating worn off around the edges of the guitar body - especially on the guitar front, either side of the neck, and I also think I am seeing a soldered front edge, indicating a 3-piece body - another factor pointing to it probably being German Silver. You can see the dull yellow brass on the coverplate, where the plating has worn off.

So, I suppose this is evidence that some 1931/32 Style N's did have a German Silver body - but this one does look like a 3-piece body.
My own 1931 Style N (with hooks coverplate, and no coverplate ribs) is definitely all brass - AND it has a two-piece body (the front and sides are formed from one sheet of metal - and the distinctive curve at the front edges bounce off light much more than a soldered front seam.

So, it got me to thinking, did National ever make two-piece German Silver bodies ? (Front & sides one piece, or maybe later, for 14-fret neck bodies, back & sides in one piece ??).

So, if they never made any 2-piece German Silver bodies, if a circa 1931-1933 Style N was claimed to be German Silver, you just need to look at the guitar and see if it has a solder seam at the front or not, yeah ?? If it's got a solder seam at both front & back of the guitar, it's a 3-piece body, and thus German Silver. If only one edge is soldered then it's brass or something else, but definitely not German Silver.

Does that sound about right ??

Attachments:

[snakehips]

Hi again !!

I just noticed that the guitar for sale on Retrofret is actually the very same Style N that Mark Makin has pictured in his article I gave the link to (same serial no. etc !!)

Oh, and I forgot to ask - does Mark Makin think the German Silver Style N's, like this one for sale on Retrofret, were left-over bodies from early 1930, or might they be built in 1932, from German Silver ??

Are there any German Silver 2-piece bodies ?
Are there are 2- or 3- piece German Silver 12-fret bodies with rolled F-holes ? (if so, they couldn't be "left-over" bodies from 1930 !)

[vastopol]

It seems like german silver do not admit press stamping like brass or steel...maybe that's why style N are always three pieces, and flat cut holes ?

( I remember seeing an NRP "style N" with rolled F, does it was made with german steel or the name "style N" was used just for the plain appearance without sandblasting?...)

[snakehips]

Jan 25, 2024 15:39:01 GMT vastopol said:

...maybe that's why style N are always three pieces, and flat cut holes ?

Doh ! We need to get this right !

All super-early 1930, non-etched Style O's, with Style 1 Tricone necks and National decal on the headstock, ALL have German Silver, 3-piece bodies.


The late 1931 to (early ?) 1933 Style N's are mostly 2-piece bodies, mostly brass, with squared-off headstocks, with Iveroid overlay,
But as per my previous posts, it seems there are some in 3-piece German silver bodied Style N's (with squared-off headstocks & Iveroid overlay)

It seems that the lack of decent knowledge on the differences between these guitars over the years AND the fact that NRP were calling their non-etched guitars Style N - whether brass or German Silver, JUST added to the confusion !!

[resonatadog]

Allow me to add to the confusion my style N German Silver body plated brass cover plate is labeled style O if I’m reading it right 0.

[Michael Messer]

It is a confusing subject because there are variations in Style N bodies, such as the copper one we know of. I will ask Mark to have a read through this lot.

Shine On
Michael